Retiree Notes: Trump admin brings AI to Medicare, and more

Trump admin brings AI to Medicare

Jan Lease, an AFSCME Chapter 31 retiree and Medicare beneficiary, is one of many seniors concerned about a new pilot project from President

Trump’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Called the WISeR Model, it allows Artificial Intelligence (AI) to determine whether beneficiaries qualify for certain outpatient procedures. 

“I just do not trust a computer to determine whether or not I can get a procedure,” Lease said.

WISeR began in January of this year in six states including Arizona, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington. Expected to impact around 6.4 million Americans, it marks the first time that prior authorization will be incorporated into Medicare. 

Seniors aren’t the only ones concerned. Many health care experts believe it will harm patient care rather than improve it. Others worry that the AI bot could make mistakes when deciding on who gets what care.

“While I know it is not currently impacting those of us in Illinois, they could expand it, and we need to fight back now before that happens,” Lease said.

AFSCME is urging retirees to help fight back by calling their member of Congress and asking them to support the following bills:

• Ban AI Denials in Medicare Act (H.R. 6361), which amends the Social Security Act to prohibit CMS from implementing the WISeR model or any substantially similar models in the future that uses prior authorization in traditional Medicare (including AI).  
• Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act (H.R. 5940/S.3480), which aims to repeal and prohibit the CMS WISeR model.

Champaign retiree launches hygiene pantry 

AFSCME Retirees Sub-Chapter 88 member Della Jacobs knew there was a need in her community for free hygiene products, especially feminine products. 

Jacobs was specifically looking out for people impacted by “period poverty”, the lack of access to and inability to pay for menstrual products. With the support of her community and sub-chapter, she launched the CLUW Hygiene Pantry of Champaign County in partnership with the East-Central Illinois Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, of which Jacobs is president. 

“As a former SNAP-Ed person, I’ve spent a lot of time in all the pantries,” Jacobs said. “Everyone had a little something, but it was not consistent. I wanted a place where people could depend on period products.” 

What started as an idea solely for period poverty quickly morphed into any item that relates to caring for your body. 

Located at the Brookens Administrative Center in Urbana, the hygiene pantry provides free items such as tampons, pads, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant without any eligibility requirements.

The pantry has received community support. Members of AFSCME Sub-chapter 88 made a large donation at their annual Christmas party last year. 

“I love working with people in my community and making their day,” Jacobs said. “They are so happy they have a resource to go to, and it is rewarding to see their thank-yous and smiles.” 

For her service to the community, Jacobs was given the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, which she will accept in Springfield.

Fraud Alert: SERS retirees must use caution  

A new scam targets SERS retirees via text and email, and the retirement system is urging retirees to use extreme caution when disclosing personal information online.

The fraudulent text messages and emails promise monthly benefit payments up to four days early if a retiree completes a form providing personal data, including bank account information.

At first glance, the emails may appear legitimate. They contain the SERS logo and branding.

But the nonexistent “program” is a scam. SERS does not offer a program that allows early monthly benefit payments.

One easy way to spot the scam: Check the email address. 

All legitimate emails coming from SERS will end with “@srs.illinois.gov”. Any email purporting to come from SERS that does not have that ending should be considered fraudulent. 

One of the trademark tells of the scam is that the emails may come from DocuSign, a legitimate service for gathering electronic signatures. However, SERS does not use DocuSign for any direct deposit changes nor does it accept electronic signatures.

If you receive a text or email that you believe to be a scam, do not provide any of your personal information. Instead, contact SERS immediately at 217-785-7444.

If you have already provided your personal or financial information in response to what you believe was a scam, you should contact your financial institution immediately and notify SERS at the same number.